Last Man Standing | TNCC Library Blog

by David Baldacci

The hero of Baldacci’s latest thriller is Web London, a member of the elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team. One night, on what seems like a routine drug raid, Web freezes up, hesitant to rush into the fray. It turns out to be a trap; the team members trigger unmanned machine guns and are slaughtered. Web is the last one in and manages to drop to the ground without getting hit. He destroys the machine guns and saves a little boy, Kevin, but he is tormented by the feeling that he let his team down. After his team’s death, some members of the FBI are suspicious of Web, and when the news media gets wind of the fact that he froze up, they begin to hound him. He seeks counseling from Claire Daniels, a psychiatrist, who tries to draw out Web’s buried feelings. Meanwhile, Web tries to find out exactly who set up his team, searching for drug dealers who had the ability to execute the plan, but as he investigates, he finds he may have enemies closer to home. Baldacci’s fans, of which there are many, will be happy to see him back in thriller-writing mode. — Review Copyright 2005 Kristine Huntley, Booklist.

If you’d like to participate in an online discussion, just enter your thoughts below. Discussion will be open from two weeks before to two weeks after the on campus gathering.

Note: The comments and opinions expressed by users of this blog are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of the moderator or of Thomas Nelson Community College. This discussion is moderated and offensive or inappropriate comments may be deleted or disemvoweled.

6 thoughts on “Last Man Standing”

I wanted to like this book, but I found the plot confusing. It had twists and turns that seemed really unnecessary. I also had issues with some of the characters. Gwen was fairly two-dimensional, and the Big F seemed like a gross stereotype as did the secretary. I liked Perce. The almost romance between Claire and Web was just sad, wooden, and unprofessional. I think I need to try a different Baldacci novel. Suggestions?

Don

I’m a fan of Baldacci’s books and I agree with Barbara Gibson. I like the escape, the short chapters, the adventure, and the characters I can care about. Some of my favorite Baldacci books include THE SIMPLE TRUTH, SAVING FAITH, and THE WINNER. That last one will make you rethink buying a lottery ticket, by the way. Also, if I recall, when he spoke on our campus recently, Baldacci mentioned asking a friend who works for the CIA if he could check the credibility of a plot, and he was told, “If you can imagine it, it has probably been done.” And this guy has quite an imagination!

I definitely have to give him another chance. All of my students who read this book, which I am ashamed to say I picked without reading it first, say this is NOT his best work. I’ll try one of your suggestions, Susan.

I had to force myself to read past the first chapter. I almost couldn’t get past the really bad writing; it made me wonder if Baldacci had actually written this himself, considering that a lot of his other books are actually quite good. Another thing that bothered me were the racial stereotypes…. totally gratuitous in my opinion.

I actually started reading the book for the purpose of extra credit, much to my surprise I actually enjoyed it. I will say I was a bit confused at times but he always made it come full circle. I will say that it has made me curious and I will definately pick up another of his books.

rayl on October 29, 2009 at 3:28 pm said:

I wanted to like this book, but I found the plot confusing. It had twists and turns that seemed really unnecessary. I also had issues with some of the characters. Gwen was fairly two-dimensional, and the Big F seemed like a gross stereotype as did the secretary. I liked Perce. The almost romance between Claire and Web was just sad, wooden, and unprofessional. I think I need to try a different Baldacci novel. Suggestions?
Barbara Gibson on October 29, 2009 at 5:20 pm said:

Don
Susan Pongratz on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 pm said:

I’m a fan of Baldacci’s books and I agree with Barbara Gibson. I like the escape, the short chapters, the adventure, and the characters I can care about. Some of my favorite Baldacci books include THE SIMPLE TRUTH, SAVING FAITH, and THE WINNER. That last one will make you rethink buying a lottery ticket, by the way. Also, if I recall, when he spoke on our campus recently, Baldacci mentioned asking a friend who works for the CIA if he could check the credibility of a plot, and he was told, “If you can imagine it, it has probably been done.” And this guy has quite an imagination!
Lisa Ray on November 9, 2009 at 3:16 pm said:

I definitely have to give him another chance. All of my students who read this book, which I am ashamed to say I picked without reading it first, say this is NOT his best work. I’ll try one of your suggestions, Susan.
Aileen on November 10, 2009 at 9:08 pm said:

I had to force myself to read past the first chapter. I almost couldn’t get past the really bad writing; it made me wonder if Baldacci had actually written this himself, considering that a lot of his other books are actually quite good. Another thing that bothered me were the racial stereotypes…. totally gratuitous in my opinion.
Dawn on November 10, 2009 at 11:29 pm said:

I actually started reading the book for the purpose of extra credit, much to my surprise I actually enjoyed it. I will say I was a bit confused at times but he always made it come full circle. I will say that it has made me curious and I will definately pick up another of his books.